Document handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A document handling apparatus (10) is disclosed. The apparatus (10) comprises a safe (20) housing a storage assembly (30), a note handling module (30) (40) mounted on top of the safe (20) and a door cover (60) which conceals a safe door (22) providing access to the interior of the safe. The note handling module (30) (40) has an input module (41), a NHM transport (42) for conveying documents, an output module (46), a document analysis assembly (43) and a first diverter (44) controlled by a main control unit. The door cover (60) further conceals a cassette module (50) located between the door cover (60) and the door safe door (22) and which houses a removable cassette (110) for storing documents.

The present invention relates to a document handling apparatus and moreparticularly to an apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensingdocuments, such as banknotes, from storage to a user.

WO 2008/047094, for example, describes such a multifunctional handlingapparatus which comprises a vault or a safe housing a storage assemblyand a note handling module mounted on top of the safe. The storageassembly, in this example, consists of a number of roll storage modules(RSMs) in which banknotes can be stored. The note handling comprisesfour components: an input module, a secure document analysis (SDA)assembly, a horizontal transport section and an output or stackermodule. The front of the safe is provided with a moulding door coverwhich conceals a safe door providing access to the interior of the safe.

It has been found that such handling apparatus apparatuses need highercapacities on roll storage modules in order to adapt their uses to thebusiness trend. However, in order to avoid increasing the size of theapparatus or the number of roll storage modules, it is known to use acassette module offering an added space to empty the storage module whenthe number of banknotes contained in said storage modules of a givendenomination or value, exceeds a predetermined number. Such a cassettemodule is, for example, disclosed in EP0735513 B1 which shown shows ahandling apparatus, similar to the apparatus above described, comprisinga pre-storage module and a cassette module having a collecting cassetteused for receiving banknotes from the storage modules.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a documenthandling apparatus which is further able to conveniently outputdocuments or banknotes in bulk within a cassette module with a minimumincrease of the size of the apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided adocument handling apparatus comprising a safe housing a storageassembly, a note handling module (NHM) mounted on top of the safe and adoor cover which conceals a safe door providing access to the interiorof the safe, the note handling module having an input module, an NHMtransport for conveying documents, an output module, a document analysisassembly and a first diverter controlled by a main control unit, whereinthe door cover further conceals a cassette module located between thedoor cover and the door safe door and which houses a removable cassettefor storing documents.

The cassette module may be mounted on the safe door by a secure hingearrangement.

The cassette module may comprise a vertical transport section which inuse is associated with a horizontal transport path section located inthe note handling module.

Preferably, the output module comprises stacker wheels and thehorizontal transport path section is located underneath the said stackerwheels.

Also preferably, the note handling module comprises a second diverterwhich when in a first position enables documents to be fed to the outputmodule, and which when in a second position enables documents eitherearlier stored in the storage assembly or placed in the input module tobe dispensed to the cassette in response respectively to a commandentered from a user or to the detection via the document analysisassembly of pre-defined banknotes.

The second diverter may be located at a leading edge of the horizontaltransport path section.

The cassette module may comprise a paddle drive mechanism arranged, inuse, to drive up and down along the length of the cassette a packerplate located inside the cassette and a note stack level control fordetermining and controlling, in use, the position of the packer plate.

The cassette module may further comprise a lift mechanism which when ina first position enables a cassette to be loaded or unloaded from thecassette module, and which when in a second position enables documentsto be fed to the cassette.

The cassette module may comprise a pivotally mounted note guidesarranged in such a way that when the cassette is in its second position,the note guides reach into the cassette.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof outputting documents in bulk to a removable cassette having a packerplate located inside the cassette and using a document handlingapparatus document according to the first aspect of the presentinvention, which is controlled by a main control unit, comprising thesteps of: inserting and locking the cassette within the cassette moduleand controlling the NHM transport and skimming transport path of theapparatus, the first and second diverter in such a way that documentseither earlier stored in the storage assembly or placed in the inputmodule to be dispensed to the cassette in response respectively to acommand entered from a user sent to the MCU or to the detection ofpre-defined banknotes.

The command entered from a user is preferably either a confirmationcommand entered in response to the detection that the capacity of thestorage module is reaching its limit or a withdrawal command to dispensethe document within the cassette.

The method may further comprise upon detection that the cassette is fullor has reached a pre-determined value defined by the user, a command tostop dispensing documents to the cassette is sent to the MCU.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings of which:—

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a document handling apparatus inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic overview of the modules contained within theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a doorcover and a cassette module, according to the present invention, intheir open position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cassette module;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a removable cassette adapted to beloaded within the cassette module of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross section through an output module of theapparatus and the top part of the cassette module;

FIG. 8 is a left hand side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, without adoor cover; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus without a door cover andin which the cassette is in its raised position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a multi-functional cashhandling apparatus 10, according to the present invention, comprising avault or a safe 20 housing a storage assembly 30, a note handling module(NHM) 40 mounted on top of the safe 20 and a skimming or cassette module50.

The safe 20 conventionally comprises a body consisting of walls 21 23and a safe door 22 which provides access to the interior of the safe.The door 22 is mounted on the safe body by a secure hinge arrangement.The walls 21 23 are typically made of steel and may be up to 40 mm inthickness. The door 22 comprises a lock 23 21 which operates latches(not shown) to secure the door into the wall of the body, and a handle24 for opening the door 22. The safe 20 is provided with a moulding doorcover 60 which conceals the safe door 20 22 providing access to theinterior of the safe. The door cover 60 comprises a lock (not shown) tosecure the door cover 60 to the safe 20.

The safe 20 also comprises an aperture 26 in its upper wall for transferof notes between the storage assembly 30 and the note handling module40.

The storage assembly 30 is slidably mounted into the safe 20 via achassis (not shown). The storage assembly 30 comprises, in this example,a number of roll storage modules (RSMs) 31, in this example six RSMs, inwhich banknotes are stored.

The note handling module (NHM) 40, which in use, in this example, islocated under a desk, advantageously comprises two main parts: anelongate frame that extends along the length of the safe and a moveablecarriage which rests in use within the frame and slide slides out abovethe front of the safe, for access to the NHM, for example in the case ofa note jam. Such a NHM 40 is more fully described in the patentapplication WO 2008/047094.

The NHM 40, as can best be shown in FIG. 3, comprises an input module41, a NHM transport 42, a secure document analysis assembly (SDA) 43, athree way or first diverter 44, a two way or second diverter 45 and anoutput module 46.

The input module 41 is situated at the front of the NHM 40 above theoutput module 46. The input module 41 contains an input hopper whichreceives banknotes placed by a user and a series of roller mechanismswhich feed the banknotes one by one into the NHM transport 42.

The NHM transport 42 comprises horizontal transport sections 42a to 42b.Each of these sections is typically a three belt transport system whichreceives notes and propels them forward. Hence after the input module 41and as illustrated in FIG. 3, a first or upper transport section 42aconveys the notes through the SDA assembly 43 which comprises a detectormodule 43a so as to determine the properties of the note. The detectormodule 43a may include in a well-known manner a combination of thefollowing: optical, magnetic, UV and IR system. Optionally, the detectormodule 43a may also have an ultrasound detector unit. A U-turn section47 allows the note to move from the upper transport section 42a to alower transport section 42c 42b by rotating the note by 180 degrees. Thelower transport section 42b conveys the note towards the first diverter44.

The first diverter 44 is more fully described in the patent applicationWO 2008/047094 and will only be described thereafter through itsoperation. The first diverter 44 allows three different note paths: fromthe input module 41 to a second diverter 45 or two way diverter; fromthe input module 41 to the roll storage modules 31 or from the rollstorage modules 31 to the second diverter 45. A through safe transport70 and a transport safe module 80 interact with the three way diverter44 to convey the note to the appropriate RSM 31.

The final destination of the note after the first diverter 44 iscontrolled by a second diverter or two way diverter 45 including a guidemember which is operable under the control of a control unit (not shown)to guide a banknote either from the first diverter 44 to the outputmodule 46 or from the first diverter 44 to the cassette or skimmingmodule 50 located outside the safe—between the safe door 22 and the doorcover 60—via a skimming transport path 90.

The output or stacker module 46 comprises an output hopper 461 wherenotes are delivered to an operator, and a pair of stacker wheels 462.Each stacker wheel 462 conventionally comprises a solid plastic core anda plurality of arcuate protrusions defining veins therebetween. In use abanknote enters the veins at the top of the wheel 462 which is thenrotated to turn the banknote and deposit it on guide plates 463 (FIG. 87) to support the growing banknote stack.

A banknote coming from the first diverter 44 and directed by the seconddiverter 45 to the cassette module 50 is conveyed via a horizontaltransport section 91 situated underneath the output or stacker module 46and which forms part of the skimming transport path 90.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 to 9, the skimming module or cassettemodule 50 comprises three components: a cassette structure 51 mounted onthe safe door 60 22 by a secure hinge arrangement 100, a verticaltransport section 92, which forms all together with the horizontaltransport section 91 located underneath the stacker wheels 46 theskimming transport path 90, and a removable cassette 110 which in use ishoused within the cassette structure 51. The vertical transport section92 is mounted at the upper part of the cassette structure 51, and aremovable cassette 110 which in use is housed within the cassettestructure 51.

The vertical transport section 92 is conventionally a two belt androllers transport system which is driven from a single motor.

Before entering the cassette 110, notes pass over brush assemblies (notenot shown) which protrude through apertures provided in the vicinity ofthe trailing edge of the vertical transport section 92. Each brushassembly typically consists of a body which supports brush elements, thefree extremities of which extend into the banknote path. Contact withthe brushes helps to remove any static charge built up on the notes toimprove formation of the stack. The trailing edge of the verticaltransport section 92 is also provided with a pair of flapper wheels 120(as shown in FIG. 7). In use, the flapper wheels 120 push the rear endpart of the note causing the front end part of the note to collide witha front wall 111 530 of the cassette 110 which will be described indetail thereafter. When the front end part of the note collides with thefront wall 111 530 of the cassette 110, the flapper wheels 120 furtherrotate pushing the rear end portion of the note downward and quicklydepositing the note within the cassette 110.

The cassette structure 51, shown in FIG. 5, has a base wall 510, a rearwall 520, a front wall 530 and side walls 540, 541 which together define550 a cavity which is sized to accommodate the removable cassette 110.The side wall 541 opposite the hinge arrangement 100 of the structure 51is provided with an aperture permitting to slide or load the removablecassette 110 within the cassette structure 51. The cassette module 50 isfurther provided with a lock mechanism 130 to secure the cassette module50 to the safe door 60. The lock mechanism 130 is, in this instance, anarticulated lever 131 conformed to cooperate with a hook 132 arranged onthe safe door 60.

The cassette structure 51 comprises a lift mechanism 140 to move thecassette 110 from a release or first position in which the cassette 110rests on the base wall 510 to a skim position. The lift mechanism 140comprises a lifting lever 142 articulated mounted in the front wall 530of the cassette structure 51, which is linked to a cam profile (notshown) located behind the back wall 520.

The side wall 540 of the cassette structure adjacent to the hingearrangement 100 is provided with a paddle drive mechanism 200 arrangedto drive up and down along the length of the cassette 110 a packer plate115 (see FIG. 6) located inside the cassette 110—as it will be describedin detail thereafter—and a note stack level control 210 provided abovethe cassette structure 51. The stack level control 210 comprises, forexample, an optical sensor fixed to a sensor mount which determines andcontrols the position of the plate 115 located inside the cassette 110.

An elongated aperture 201 is provided through the side wall 540 andextends in the direction between the base wall 540 and the top of thestructure. A spindle 202 is arranged adjacent and parallel to theelongate aperture 201. A lifter carriage 203 with an internal screwthread is disposed on the spindle 202 which is provided with an externalscrew thread. The spindle 202 is coupled to a motor 204 via toothed cog(not shown). Activation of the motor 204 causes the spindle 202 torotate and as a result the lifter carriage 203 moves up or down thespindle 202, depending on the direction of rotation of the spindle 202.The lifter carriage 203 has a protrusion which extends through theelongate aperture 201 and engages with the packer plate 115 of acassette 110 loaded into the cassette structure 51.

The cassette module 50 is further provided with a note guides 400bpivotally mounted on the upper part of the front wall 530 and arrangedin such a way that when the cassette 110 is lifted up the note guides400b reach into the cassette 110 ensuring a smooth transfer of thebanknote into the cassette 110.

The cassette 110, as can best be seen in FIG. 6, comprises a case havinga door 110a, a rear wall 110b, side walls 110c, 110d, a lid 400 and abase 110e. The door 11a 110a is hinged along one of its edges to one ofthe side walls 110c. One 110d of the side walls has also a handle 401for ease of handling. The lid 400 is a flat panel having a tab 400′ atits free end. The lid 400 is slidably coupled with the top of thecassette 110. The lid 400 and the door 110a are provided with latches(not shown) which are connected to a slide 402 mounted on the side wall110d provided with the handle H 401. The door 110a, which can be openedso as to unload the banknotes located within the cassette 110, has amechanical lock 403, in this instance a rotatable barrel operable bymeans of a key 404. It will be appreciated that the cassette module 50can also be provided with a conventional electronic lock, such as asolenoid assembly (not shown) so as to lock the cassette 110 within thecassette structure 51.

Conveniently, the apparatus 10 is controlled by a conventional maincontrol unit (MCU) or main controller (MC) and a software applicationdesigned for use by a cashier in charge of the operation of theapparatus 10. The MCU controls and monitors the operation of thedocument handling apparatus as explained below as well as others controlunits located within the apparatus.

When the user put puts a stack of banknotes in the input module 41, thebanknotes are fed one by one into transport for conveying each banknotepast detectors 43a to the first diverter 44. If the banknote is to bestored in the storage assembly, the first diverter 44 directs thebanknote into the storage assembly 30 via the through safe transport 70and the transport safe module 80 to the appropriate RSM 31. If thebanknote is to be returned to the user, the first diverter 44 directsthe banknote to the stacker 46 from which it can be collected by theuser.

When a banknote is to be dispensed from a roll storage module 31, it isconveyed in the reverse direction out of the RSM 31 along the transportsafe module 80 via the transport safe transport 70 to the first diverter44 which directs the banknote to the stacker 46 where it can becollected by the user.

With the skimming module 50 according to the present invention, threedifferent skimming modes are available to the user.

Before any skimming mode is available, the user must open the door cover60 and then insert a cassette 110 within the cassette structure 51. Thecassette 110 is locked within the cassette structure 51 and the lid 400of the cassette 110 must be open. To open the lid 400 the user mustpress the slide 402 downwards and slide the lid 400 out in direction A(FIG. 6) using tab 400′ as a handle. The lid 400 can then be swung downso as to cover the side panel 110d so that access to the interior of thecassette 110 is allowed. The cassette 110 is then lifted up to itsskimming position (FIG. 9) by operating the lever 142. When the cassette110 is moved to this skimming position, the note guides 400b of thestructure 51 is are displaced into the cassette 110. The Main controlunit of the apparatus 10 sends a command to the paddle drive mechanism200 to move upward the packer plate 115 of the cassette 110 until atypical end stop switch detects that the plate 115 has reached its endposition and the motor stops.

The MCU continuously checks that the cassette 110 is empty via thesignal received from the sensor 210. If the cassette is not empty thesensor 210 will detects the notes and will stop the motor of the paddledrive mechanism before the end stop switch.

If the MCU detects that the cassette 110 is not empty then the user isprompted to enter the value of the notes or documents inside thecassette 110. Alternatively, the cassette may be rejected by the MCU asnot being an empty cassette 110. All the transport systems describedherein are driven by motors which are controlled by the MCU in aconventional way and will therefore not further be described.

According to a first skimming mode, the user when selecting a withdrawalcan also select to send the banknotes to be withdrawn to the cassette110. In this event, each banknote is conveyed in the reverse directionout of the RSM 31 along the transport safe module 80 via the transportsafe transport 70 to the first diverter 44 which directs the banknote tothe second diverter 45 which directs the banknote to the skimmingtransport path 90 so that the banknote is stored into the cassette 110.During this operation, a controller controls the paddle drive mechanism200 to move downward the packer plate 115 of the cassette 110 in such away that the distance between the last banknote on the packer plate 115and the sensor 210 is always at the same predetermined distance. Whenthe skimming operation is terminated, the user must lift down thecassette 110 to its release or second position via the lever 142 andthen close the lid 400 of the cassette 110 before being able to unlockand remove the cassette 110 from the structure 51.

According to a second skimming mode, if the MCU detects that at leastone RSM 31 is almost full and that a cassette 110 is present within theapparatus 10, the user is prompted with a message offering him/her toskim banknotes to the cassette 110. If the user accepts, the MCU willautomatically empty the identified RSM 31 by conveying banknotebanknotes in the reverse direction out of the RSM along the transportsafe module 80 via the transport safe 70 to the first diverter 44 whichdirects the banknote to the second diverter 45 which directs thebanknote to the skimming transport path 90 so that the banknote isstored into the cassette 110. All notes into the cassette 110 arecounted. It will be appreciated that for this second mode, the user isable to preset a minimum amount of notes which must be left inside eachRoll Storage Modules (RSM) 31. When the skimming operation isterminated, the user must lift down the cassette 110 to its releaseposition via the lever 142 and then close the lid 400 of the cassettebefore being able to unlock and remove the cassette 110 from thestructure 51.

In the event that more than one RSM need needs to be emptied within thesame cassette 110, the MCU commands the RSM 31 containing the biggestnotes to be conveyed first to the cassette 110 avoiding hence anystacking problems inside the cassette 110.

It will be appreciated that in order to improve the traceability of theperson requiring a skimming operation, the software controlling theapparatus 10 is set up in such a way that security means are put inplace, for instance, name and password are required before any skimmingmodes can start. In addition, before a user is able to remove a cassette110 from the structure 51, the user can be prompted to print out a“skimming closure report” reporting the content of the cassette 110.Such a report is also available in the event that a jam occurred duringthe skimming operation.

According to a third skimming mode, it is possible to set up theapparatus to move straight into the cassette pre-defined banknotes, suchas specific denomination, notes qualities during normal depositoperations. In this last mode, it will not be possible to execute withinthe same cassette 110 the two previous skimming modes above described.The user will be prompted to replace the cassette 110 if the first orsecond skimming mode is available.

For all of the skimming modes, the skimming process is stoppedautomatically when there are no more banknotes to be skimmed or when thecassette 110 is detected full by the sensor 210, i.e. the sensor 210detects that the packer plate 115 has reached the low end position.Alternatively, the value inside the cassette 110 may be preset so thatany skimming operation stops when the value inside the cassette 110reaches this preset limit.

The document handling apparatus 10 equipped with a skimming cassettemodule 50 as herein described has the advantages of offering a means forconveniently removing surplus documents or banknotes out of the safe toanother area in a bundled and shielded way and this without opening thesafe or touching the documents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A document handling apparatus comprising: asafe, housing; a storage assembly; a note handling module (NHM) mountedon top of the safe, the note handling module having an input module, anNHM transport for conveying documents, an output module, a documentanalysis assembly and a first diverter, controlled by a main controlunit; a cassette module structure which is sized to accommodate aremovable cassette for storing documents; and a door cover whichconceals a safe door providing access to the interior of the safe,wherein the door cover further conceals the cassette module structurewhich is located between the door cover and the safe door and whichhouses a removable cassette for storing documents, wherein the NHMtransport and the first diverter are configured to dispense documentsearlier stored in the storage assembly at least to the cassette.
 2. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cassette module structureis mounted on the safe door by a secure hinge arrangement.
 3. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein further comprising, mounted atthe upper part of the cassette module comprises structure, a verticaltransport section which in use is associated with a horizontal transportsection located in the note handling module, the vertical and horizontalsection forming together a skimming transport path.
 4. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the output module comprises stacker wheelsand in that the horizontal transport section is located underneath thesaid stacker wheels.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thenote handling module comprises a second diverter which when in a firstposition enables documents to be fed to the output module, and whichwhen in a second position enables documents either earlier stored in thestorage assembly or placed in the input module to be dispensed, in use,to the cassette in response respectively to a command entered from auser or to the detection via the document analysis assembly ofpre-defined banknotes.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe second diverter is located at a leading edge of the horizontaltransport section.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecassette module comprises further comprising, attached to the cassettestructure, a paddle drive mechanism arranged, in use, to drive up anddown along the length of the cassette a packer plate located inside thecassette and a note stack level control for determining and controlling,in use, the position of the packer plate.
 8. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the cassette module structure further comprises a liftmechanism which when in a first position enables a cassette to be loadedor unloaded from the cassette module structure, and which when in asecond position enables documents to be fed to the cassette.
 9. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cassette module structurecomprises a pivotally mounted note guide arranged in such a way thatwhen the cassette is in a pre-defined position, the note guides reachguide reaches into the cassette.
 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a vertical trans ort section wherein the verticaltransport section has a trailing edge which is provided with a pair offlapper wheels.
 11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thestorage assembly consists of a number of roll storage modules in whichdocuments can be stored.
 12. A method of outputting documents in bulk toa removable cassette having a packer plate located inside the cassetteand using a document handling apparatus which is controlled by a maincontrol unit (MCU), the method comprising: opening a door cover, whereinthe door cover conceals a safe door that provides access to the interiorof a safe located in the document handling apparatus, and wherein thedoor cover further conceals a cassette structure which is locatedbetween the door cover and the safe door; inserting and locking thecassette within a the cassette module, wherein the document handlingcomprises a door cover which conceals a safe door providing access tothe interior of a safe, and wherein the door cover further conceals thecassette module which is located between the door cover and the safedoor structure; controlling an NHM a note handling module transport and,a skimming transport of the apparatus path, a first diverter, and asecond diverter in such a way that documents earlier stored in a storageassembly in the safe are dispensed at least to the cassette in responseto a command entered from a user and sent to an the MCU, wherein thestorage assembly is configured to receive documents from an inputmodule.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the command enteredfrom a user is either a confirmation command entered in response to thedetection that the capacity of a storage module in the storage assemblyis reaching its limit or a withdrawal command to dispense the documentwithin the cassette.
 14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein upondetection that the cassette is full or has reached a pre-determinedvalue defined by the user, a command to stop dispensing documents to thecassette is sent to the MCU.
 15. A document handling apparatuscontrolled by a main control unit for outputting documents in bulk to aremovable cassette having a packer plate located inside the cassette,wherein the apparatus is configured to allow the cassette to be insertedand locked within a cassette module, wherein the document handlingapparatus comprises a door cover which conceals a safe door providingaccess to the interior of a safe, and wherein the door cover furtherconceals the cassette module which is located between the door cover andthe safe door, and wherein a NHM a note handling module transport and, askimming transport of the apparatus path, a first diverter, and a seconddiverter are configured in such a way that documents earlier stored in astorage assembly in the safe are dispensed at least to the cassette inresponse to a command entered from a user and sent to the main controlunit, wherein the storage assembly is configured to receive documentsfrom an input module.
 16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, whereinthe command entered from a user is either a confirmation command enteredin response to the detection that the capacity of a storage module inthe storage assembly is reaching its limit or a withdrawal command todispense the document within the cassette.
 17. An apparatus as claimedin claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect whether thecassette is full or has reached a pre-determined value defined by theuser, and if so detected, to send a command to stop dispensing documentsto the cassette is sent to the main control unit.
 18. A method ofoutputting documents in bulk to a removable cassette having a packerplate located inside the cassette and using a document handlingapparatus which is controlled by a main control unit, the methodcomprising: opening a door cover, wherein the door cover conceals a safedoor that provides access to the interior of a safe located in thedocument handling apparatus, and wherein the door cover further concealsa cassette structure which is located between the door cover and thesafe door; inserting and locking the cassette within a cassette module,wherein the document handling apparatus comprises a door cover whichconceals a safe door providing access to the interior of a safe, andwherein the door cover further conceals the cassette module which islocated between the door cover and the safe door, structure; controllingan NHM a note handling module transport and, a skimming transport of theapparatus path, a first diverter, and a second diverter such that theyare capable of dispensing documents earlier stored in a storage assemblyin the safe at least to the cassette in response to a command enteredfrom a user and sent to a main control unit, and dispensing documentsplaced in an input module at least to the cassette in response todetection of pre-defined documents, wherein the storage assembly isconfigured to receive documents from the input module.
 19. A method asclaimed in claim 18, wherein the command entered from a user is either aconfirmation command entered in response to the detection that thecapacity of a storage module in the safe is reaching its limit or awithdrawal command to dispense the document within the cassette.
 20. Amethod as claimed in claim 18, wherein upon detection that the cassetteis full or has reached a pre-determined value defined by the user, acommand to stop dispensing documents to the cassette is sent to the maincontrol unit.
 21. An A document handling apparatus controlled by a maincontrol unit for outputting documents in bulk to a removable cassettehaving a packer plate located inside the cassette, wherein the apparatusis configured to allow the cassette to be inserted and locked within acassette module structure, wherein the document handling apparatuscomprises a door cover which conceals a safe door providing access tothe interior of a safe, and wherein the door cover further conceals thecassette module structure which is located between the door cover andthe safe door, and wherein an NEM a note handling module transport and askimming transport path of the apparatus, a first diverter and a seconddiverter are configured in such a way that they are capable of:dispensing documents earlier stored in a storage assembly at least tothe cassette in response to a command entered from a user sent to a themain control unit, and dispensing documents placed in an input module atleast to the cassette in response to detection of pre-defined documents,wherein the storage assembly is configured to receive documents from theinput module.
 22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein thecommand entered from a user is either a confirmation command entered inresponse to the detection that the capacity of a storage module in thesafe is reaching its limit or a withdrawal command to dispense one ormore of the document documents within the cassette.
 23. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 21, wherein the apparatus is configured to detectwhether the cassette is full or has reached a pre-determined valuedefined by the user, and if so detected, to send a command to stopdispensing documents to the cassette is sent to the main control unit.24. A document handling apparatus comprising: a safe, housing, a storageassembly, a note handling module mounted on top of the safe, the notehandling module having an input module, an NHM a note handling moduletransport for conveying documents, an output module, a document analysisassembly and a first diverter, controlled by a main control unit, acassette module structure which is sized to accommodate a removablecassette for storing documents, and a door cover which conceals a safedoor providing access to the interior of the safe, wherein the doorcover further conceals the cassette module structure which is locatedbetween the door cover and the safe door and which houses a removablecassette for storing documents, wherein the NHM note handling moduletransport and the first diverter are capable of dispensing at least oneof: i) documents earlier stored in the storage assembly, and ii)documents placed in the input module, at least to the cassette.
 25. Thedocument handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the documents arebanknotes.
 26. The document handling apparatus of claim 15, wherein thedocuments are banknotes.
 27. The document handling apparatus of claim21, wherein the documents are banknotes.
 28. The document handlingapparatus of claim 24, wherein the documents are banknotes.
 29. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the documents are banknotes.
 30. The methodof claim 18, wherein the documents are banknotes.
 31. A method ofoutputting documents in bulk to a removable cassette, using a documenthandling apparatus which is controlled by a main control unit, themethod comprising: introducing documents into an input module of a notehandling module, or a storage assembly housed in a safe, wherein thenote handling module is mounted on top of the safe, and additionally hasan output module, and a document analysis assembly, and wherein a doorcover conceals a safe door that provides access to the interior of thesafe, and further conceals the cassette structure which is locatedbetween the door cover and the safe door; conveying the documents via anote handling module transport of the note handling module; and routingthe documents, via a first diverter in the note handling module, to acassette removably located in a cassette structure.